Small-arm.



W. BAKER.

SMALL ARM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1915.

1 ,1 84,507, Patented May 23, 1916.

INVENTQR William Baker ATTORNEYS nu: COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH C0., WASHKNGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE.

WILLIAM BAKER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

SMALL-ARM.

Application filed December 21, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BAKER, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 87 Snow Hill, in the city of Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Small-Arms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to construct an improved firing mechanism for drop-down guns of the hammerless type.

The invention comprises the in conjunction with the firing pin, of a firing spring arranged within a barrel attached to the firing pin, a safety lever whereby the firing spring can be compressed, and a catch for retaining the safety lever in the operative position, the arrangement being such that when the gun opening lever is actuated the safety lever is automatically released so that it can restore the firing pin and trigger to the cooked position, but the gun cannot be fired until the firing spring has been compressed and the safety lever reengaged with its catch.

The invention also comprises the improved firing mechanism hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings :-Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of a drop-down gun mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention, the first showing the mechanism in the safe or inoperative condition, and the second showing the mechanism in readiness for firing. Fig. 3 is an end section on 1, 2, Fig. 2.

In the application of the invention to a single barrel drop-down shot gun as shown, an elongation of the firing pin a is made in the form of a barrel Z) which contains the firing spring 6. The trigger comprises a pair of inter-engaging parts one of which (Z can be manipulated by the user and the other d is adapted to engage a shoulder e at or adjacent to the junction of the said barrel and firing pin. The part (1 is held in the operative position by a spring 6Z2. If desired a single piece trigger may be employed, this being constructed to engage the shoulder e at one end and to be actuated by the finger at the other end. Passing through a transverse slot at the rear of said barrel is arranged a safety lever f which at one end is pivoted to a fixed part of the block 9 carrying the mechanism and at the Specification of Letters Patent.

combination- Patented May 23, 1916.

Serial No. 68,007.

other end is attached to an external slide lb. The firlng spring within the barrel bears against one side of the safety lever and s compressed by it when the slide is moved 111 0116 direction. Preferably a steel ball 71 1s lnterposed between the firing spring and safety lever to reduce friction. Attached to the safety lever is a link j which through the medium of a compression spring is connects the said lever to the locking bolt Z, and on the under side of the usual hand lever on which actuates the bolt is provided a spring catch a which can engage a lip at the forward end of the slide it. Normally the firing pin and its barrel together with the trigger are in the cooked position as shown in Fig. 1, but before the firing pin can be actuated the firing spring must be compressed. This is effected by moving the slide it forward until it engages the catch n aforesaid on the bolt lever as shown at Fig. 2. During this operation the firing spring is compressed. The gun can then be fired in the ordinary way by actuation of the trigger. WVhen the bolt lever m is operated to permit the gun to be opened the slide is released, whereupon the safety lever under the action of the spring and link connection with the bolt is caused to retract the firing pin and the barrel containing the firing spring and permit the trigger to reengage the barrel. The parts are thus brought back to the cocked position. As the firing spring is however not compressed the safety lever must be actuated before the gun can be again fired. This is effected by moving the slide at the end of the safety lever into engagement with the bolt lever.

In a modification the safety lever instead of being provided with a slide which can engage the bolt lever is provided with an external extension at its lower end adjacent to the trigger. This extension must be actuated for the compression of the firing spring before the gun is fired. The retention of the safety lever in the operative position is effected by any convenient catch.

When the gun is opened the catch is liberated by the bolt and the safety lever permitted to return the trlgger and firing pin to the cooked position.

A gun mechanism as above descrlbed is extremely simple and reliable, is capable of being produced at small cost, and affords all the required security to the user.

Having thus described my'invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In drop down guns, the combination witha firing pin, of a barrel, a spring arranged within the barrel, a safety lever whereby the spring can be compressed, a catch for retaining the safety lever in the operative position, and trigger mechanism whereby the firing pin can be held or released, substantially as set forth.

2. In drop down guns, the combination comprising a firing pin, a barrel forming an extension of the firing pin, a spring arranged within the barrel, a safety lever whereby the spring can be compressed, a bolt lever, a slide on the outer end of the safety lever which slide is adapted to detachably engage the bolt lever, and trigger mechanism whereby the firing pin can be held or released, substantially as set forth.

3. In drop down guns, the combination with a firing pin, of a barrel, a spring arranged within the barrel, a safety lever whereby the spring can be compressed, a catch "for retaining the safety lever in the operative position, and trigger mechanism comprising a pair of inter-engaging levers one of which is operable by the user and the other detachably engages the firing pin barrel, and a spring acting on the latter lever, substantially as set forth.

4. In drop down guns, the combination comprising a firing pin, a barrel forming an extension of the firing pin, a spring arranged within the barrel, a safety lever whereby the spring can be compressed, a locking bolt and bolt lever, a slide on the outer end of the safety lever, a catch on the bolt lever with which the slide can be detachably engaged, a link connecting the safety lever to the bolt, a spring on said link, and trigger mechanism whereby the firing pin can be held or released, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM BAKER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

